Improvement in car-couplings



A4. A; AT1-WATER. Car-Couplings.

N0. 144,494. Patenteci Nov.l1,1873`.`

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

ANSON A. ATVVATER, OF SMITH VALLEY, `NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUFLINGS.

Specification formiu g part of Letters Patent No. 144,494, dated November 11, 1873; application filed August 10, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it' known that I, ANsoN A. ATWATER, of Smith Valley, in the county of Schuyler and State of N ew York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Oar-Couplings 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation i of a side view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my invention. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of my invention. Fig. 4 is an end view of my invention. p

This invention has relation to automatic car-couplings, and consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the slotted slide, stop-lugs, and bent arm weighted at its lower end, and pivoted at its upper end, all as hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a drawhead of ordinary form. B B indicate lugs, extending downward from the upper wall of the draw-head, lengthwise of the same, and parallel with each other, forming guides for the stem of the sliding block, and serving to hold the ends of the pivot-pin upon which the bent arm swings. C designates a circular elevation or wall7 extending upward around the opening in the top of the draw-head for the pin, and serving to assist in holding this pin upright, when it is raised or set for the coupling operation. D is a slot in the floor of the draw-head. This slot lies immediately below the space between the lugs B B. E represents the sliding block, situated within the forward portion of the draw-head. The forward part of this sliding block extends nearly to the lip of the bell-mouth of the draw-head in front, and nearly to the lugs B in rear. The rear portion of the slide is made narrow, to iit easily between the guide-lugs B. These lugs also serve as stops to prevent the slide from being carried too far back, the shoulders aon each side of the slide connecting the forward portion with the narrow stem, striking the front ends of the lugs when the slide is carried back to the'limit required by the construction. The front end of the sliding block is recessed at b to receive the link. This recess is made narrow from above and below, so that, when the link is in place and the pin down, the former will be held in a horizontal, or nearly horizontal, position. The upper and lower walls of the recess are notched at c for the passage of the pin. These notches are so arranged that they will coincide with the pin-socket when the slide is forced back to its farthest extent; but when the slide is forward, that portionv of its wall in rearof the upper notch is carried forward under the pinsocket, and serves as a ledge upon which the pin may rest. The stem or narrow rear portion of the sliding block is slotted vertically at d for the passage of the operatingarm.`

The ends of this slot are made angular in vertical section, in order that the slide shall not work loosely on the arm. The upper edge of the stem portion is notched at e, to allow of the free play of the stem back and forth bythe pivot. K indicates the operating-arm, pivoted at its upper end to the lugs B B by the pin z. This arm extends downward in a straight direction, through the slots of the stem and oor of the drawhead, and then forms an elbow, being bent backward, as shown in the drawings, and

provided at its lower and rear end with a weight, w.

The sliding block is designed to be removable. Pins o fv or` other removable stops are placed at the sides of the bell-mouth; and when said pins and the pivot-pin z are re moved from the draw-head, the weighted arm may be taken out, and the sliding block may be drawn out throughthe bell-mouth. Very little alteration in the ordinary draw-head is required to adapt it .for the reception of this slide and operatingarm; and this is importent in point of eeonomyginznsmuch as it offers an inducement for the introduction ofthe automatic coupler.

Vhztt I claim as my invention7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The car-'coupling consisting of the drawhezLd A, having the bent Weighted arm K, pvoted to the guide-lugs B at the top of the draw-head, and the slide E, slotted vertically for the passage of the Weighted arm, and recessed across its top to permit free play by the pivot-pin, constructed and combined as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

ANSON A. ATWATER.

Witnesses: v

JAMJIs A. CHRISTIE, EDWIN K. KOPER. 

